A common carrier by railroad, its agents, superintendents, managers, or employees owning or operating any line or lines of railroad in this state and engaged in commerce by railroad, employing any special agent, detective, or person commonly known as a spotter for the purpose of investigation and obtaining and reporting to the employer, its agents, superintendents, or managers information concerning its employees shall not discipline or discharge any of its employees if the act of discipline or discharge is based upon the report of such special agent, detective, or spotter, which involves a question of integrity, honesty, or breach of any rule of the employer, unless such employer, its agents, superintendents, or managers first give notice to such employee so reported and grant a hearing to the employee when he or she so requests and, upon demand by said employee, the employer at the hearing shall state the specific charges against the employee, and the accused employee shall have the right to demand and be confronted with the person making such report to his or her employer, have the right at the hearing to cross-examine the agent, detective, or spotter making the report, and have the right to employ counsel to represent him or her at the hearing.

   Any common carrier by railroad or any of its agents, superintendents, general managers, officers, or employees that violate this section are guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 6 months or a fine of not more than $750.00. In any case of the violation of this section by any of the officers, agents, or employees of any such common carrier by railroad, the imprisonment provided herein if imposed shall be imposed upon the officers or agents committing the offense.